Flush tank control system



United States Patent O This invention relates generally to flush tank systems and is more particularly concerned with an improved llush tank system incorporating a novel flush tank actuating portion, flush tank emptying portion and flush tank re-flll portion.

A further object of invention in conformance with I that set forth above is to provide in a flush tank system of the character set forth wherein said ush tank actuat-` ing, emptying and re-fill portions include pressure responsive movable walls and metered apertures operatively connected whereby emptying of fluid in the ush tank and re-lling of the same is controlled by a fluid pressure supply in communication with said tank and thev flush tank actuating portion.

A still further object of invention in conformance with that set forth above is to provide in a flush tank control system of the character set forth whereby the release of uid in the ush tank and re-illing of the sameis controlled by a fluid pressure supply source in communication with said tank whereby said flush tank control system provides a certain and positive control obviating the annoyance, inconvenience and an uncertainty of operation of present type liush tank systems.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary portion of a llush tank showing portions in section and illustrating diagrammatically the novel ush tank actuating, emptying and re-ll portions prior to actuation of the flush tank actuating portion; and

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure l showing the relative portion of the parts when the Hush tank actuating portion has been actuated.

Indicated generally at is a fragmentary portion of a conventional llush tank which includes the usual side wall 12 and bottom wall 14, the bottom wall 14 having extending therethrough a liuid pressure supply conduit 16 which is suitably seated in the bottom portion 14, the bottom portion 14 also including therein a valve seat flush outlet portion 18 which is in communication with a suitable conduit 20 operatively connected to a conventional toilet stool (not shown), the conduit 20 being suitably and sealingly secured on the lower portion 14 of the flush tank. In addition to the flush tank 10, fluid pressure supply 16, and ush tank outlet 20, the novel flush tank control system includes a ush tank actuating portion indicated generally at 22, a flush tank emptying portion 24, and a ush tank re-ll portion 26.

The ush tank actuating portion 22 includes an elongated body portion 28 suitably secured on the inner portion 30 of the Vertical wall 12 of the flush tank in any suitable; manner, the body portion 28 including an elongated bore portion 32 which includes an enlarged diameter` portion 34 in which terminates an enlarged recess 2,760,204 Patented Aug.` 28, 1956 portion 36. The recess portion 36 is formed in an enice larged end yportion 3S of the body member 28 and secured thereto is a cap element 40 which has a recess portion 42 therein cooperating with the recess 36 forming an enlarged end chamber 44, the portions 38 and `40 having interposed therebetween a flexible diaphragm or pressure responsive movable wall element 46, the element 40 being secured to the portion 38 by means of suitable fastening elements such as screws 48. Thus the pressure responsive movable wall 46 defines oppositely disposed compartments which may be identified by means of reference characters 36 and 42, which will be defined as variable volume compartments as will subsequently become apparent.

The body member 28 includes a pair of axially spaced annular valve seat portions 50 and 52 which may be defined as the inlet and outlet valve seat portions, respectively, for the purpose of controlling iluid ow through the ush tank actuating portion. The variable diameter portions 32 and 34 of the longitudinal bore of the body A member 28 define the valve seat portions 50 and S2, re'- spectively, and the body member 2S includes on opposite sides of the valve seat 50 a uid passage 54 in communication with the fluid supply source conduit 16, and a second fluid passage 56 suitably connected to a conduit 58. The other annular valve seat portion 52 has disposed on opposite sides thereof in the body portion 28, a uid passage portion 60 suitably connected to a conduit element 62, the body portion 28 having disposed on the opposite sides of the valve seat portion 52, the passage portion 64 in communication with the interior of the iiush tank 10.

A reciprocable control rod 66 is suitably supported in a bore portion 68 of the body member 28 having an end portion 70 extending on the outside of the llush tank,

the end portion 70 having a suitable enlarged end por-` tion 72 for actuating the rod 66, the portion 70 having concentrically disposed thereon a compression spring element 74 which extends between the element 72 and a securing nut element or guide element 76 which helps to support the rod 66 in the vertical wall 12 of the ush tank. The rod 66 has suitably disposed thereon in a suitable groove portion a sealing element 78 concentrically disposed on the rod 66 for preventing leakage thereby from the supply source 16 to the outside of the tank. The control rod 66 includes suitably secured thereon a pair of spaced valve seal elements 80 and 82, the valve seal element 80 including a suitable sealing portion 84 cooperating with the valve seat 50 and having concentrically disposed thereon a suitable O-ring seal element 86 for preventing leakage past the valve seal element 80,

the valve seal element 82 includes a valve seat portion 88A thereon cooperating with the annular valve seat 52, said valve seal element 82 having concentrically disposed on an intermediate portion thereof a suitable O-ring seal element 90 for preventing leakage along the outer periphery of the valve seal element 82, the end of the valve seal element 82 opposite the seat portion 88 being sealingly secured in the flexible diaphragm 46 as seen at 94 and including on the opposite end portion the second valve seat portion 96.

The cap member 4t) includes in axial alignment with the annular valve seat portions 50 and 52, and the valve seal elements 80 and 82, annular valve seat portion 98 including centrally disposed therein a metering port portion in communication with a conduit *L02 which is in communication with a branch conduit 104 communieating with the uid pressure supply line 16. It will be noted that the valve seal portion 96 of the valve seal element 82 is engageable `with the annular valve Seat portion 98 in the cap element 40 for closing off communication with a metering port portion 100 in the variablev volume chamber 42. A second metering port portion 106 is included in the cap element 40 communicating with the aforementioned variable volume chamber 42, said second metering aperture portion being in communication with a conduit element 108. Compression spring member I4 and the water pressure from the conduit 102 through the metering aperture 104 into. the chamber 42,4 said water pressure acting against the pressure responsive movable wall 4,6 tends to retain the valve seal elements 80 and 82, and their respective seating portions in sealing engagement with. the annular valve seat portions 5d and S2, see Figure l. It will be further noted that movement of the control rod 6.6. toward the right by applying pressure onl the, en d elements 7 2 for overcoming the pressure of the compression spring 74 and the duid pressure on the pressure responsive movable wall results in sealing engagement of seat portion 96 with the annular valve seat 98 wherein pressure through conduit 102 is no longer available against the pressure responsive movable wall, and further permits the supply pressure from the line 16 to pass through the uid passage portion 5.6 and to the conduit 58. This movement also permits communication between the uid4 conduit 62 into the iiuid passage portion 60, past the valve seat 5-2` and out of the fluid passage portion 64 into the ilush chamber for a purpose to become subsequently apparent.

The previously mentioned metering ports or apertures 100, and 106, and those to be subsequently described, although being indicated as fixed aperture portions could readily incorporate a plurality of interchangeable variable. apertured jet elements (not shown) in order to provide ay predetermined amount of metering to a given portion of the device depending upon the amount of time desired to fill a givenl compartment or portion thereof.

The tlush tank emptying portion 24 includes a conicalA disk sealing element 110 which is sealing engageable with the outlet portion 18 for permitting communication between the ilush tank and the conduit 20, said sealing nut 112 to one end of an actuating rod 114. The emptying portion 24 further includes an emptying housing portion 116 which includes a lower support portion 118 comprising a pair of spaced leg elements 120 and 122 which define a pair of oppositely disposed aperture portions 124 (Onlyone being shown) in communicationwith the interior of the iiush tank, the housing portion 116 further including a vertically disposed bore portion 126 which terminates at the lower end thereof in a reduced, diameter portion 128, and. at the upper end thereof in a variable volume compartment 129 of an enlarged end chamber indicated at 13th The housing 1164 includes anl upper enlarged iange portion 132 upon which is suitably secured by means of securing screws 13.4, for example,l a body portion 136 which has a lower recess portion 13.8 cooperating with the variable volume compartment portion 129 for defining the end compartment 130, and a second pressure responsive movable wall 140 is; suitably secured between the portion 132 of the housing;V portion 116 and the, body. portion 136 by means of the previously mentioned fastening elements 134.

The, actuating rod 114 extends through the reduced diameter bore portion 128 of the housing 116 andy terminates in an enlarged diameter rod portion 142 which is sealingly secured at 144 to the pressure responsive movable wall or flexible diaphragm 140. The recess portion 138 of the body portion 136 includes a centrally located reduced diameter recess portion 146 which receives one. end of a compression spring element 148 disposedy in the recess or variable volume compartment 138 of the end chamber 130, the other end of the compression spring, 148 being in engagement with the upper end portion 150 of the enlarged diameter rod portion 142, and being re-A tained thereon by means of a guide pin element 152v suitably secured in the top of enlarged rod portion 142. The compression spring 148 acts upon portion, 150 of the actuating rod 114 tending to urge thesealing element;

into engagement with the conical valve seat 18. The body portion 116 includes a uid passage portion 154v which is suitably connected to the previously mentioned conduit 58 through which the uid pressure supply line 16 is communicated upon rightward movement of the valve seal element 80. Also in communication with the variable volume chamber 129 is a suitable reduced diameter bore portion 164 which communicates said compartments to the interior of the flush tank to the apertures 124 between the leg elements 120 and 122 of the housing portion 116.

The recess' portion 138 or upper variable volume compartment includes a passage portion 166 therein in communication and suitably connected to the conduit 62 which will communicate with the interior of the tank when the valve seal element 82 is moved toward the right from the valve seat 52. Also in communication with the recess portion 138 is a metered aperture portion 168 which is in communication with the conduit 108. which.

communicates with the metered aperture portion 106 com-V municating with the variable volume recess or compartment 42 of the end chamber in the body portion of the liush tank actuating portion.

It will be noted that a suitable O-ring seal element 170 is provided about the enlarged diameter portion 142 of the actuating rod 114 to prevent leakage between thev variable volume compartment 128 and the interior of the flush tank.

It willz be noted that the conduit 182 by virtue. of its communication to the metered aperture portion 100 and thence the further communication to the metered aperture portion 106 being in communication with the conduit 108 and finally to the metered aperture portion 168 results in supply pressureI being available in the variable volume or recessv portion 138 thus presenting applied pressure on the top of the pressure responsive movable wall 140 in addition to the force of the compression spring 148 which further aids in urging the previously mentioned sealingengagement between the element 110 and the conical valve seat 12 A suitable passage portion 172l is providedy in the body portion 136, said passage portion 172 communicating with the interior of the variable volume recess 138 and constituting a.- metered aperturedl portion which communicates with a uid conduit 174 for a purpose to be sub.- sequently apparent.

The body portion 136 constitutes a lowerl portion of the iush tank re-iill housing portion 26, and, includes an upper annular portion 176 which has suitably secured thereto bymeans of the fastening screws 178', for ex'- ample, a recessed cap element 180 which includes a lower recess portion 182 which mayv define anupper variable volume compartment cooperating with a recess portion 184 of the body portion 136, the recess: portion 182 and 184 cooperating to define an enlarged end chamber portion 18.6 of the re-llz housing portion. The bodyv portion 136 includes a vertically disposed horey portion 188 which includes a lower annular valve seat portion in: communication with a passage portion 19.2; communieating with the conduit 104 which is connected to theuid pressure supply line 16. A uid passage portion 194 communicateswith the bore portion 188 on the other side o the. annular valve seat 190 and -is suitably connected to an` outlet or re-ll element 19.6 communicating, with the interior of the flush tanlr.` Reciprocably supported within the bore portion 188 is a. fluid pressure responsive piston element- 198 which includes a lower valve seat portion 25.0.0.y engageable with. the annular vallver seat' 190' for closing oi communication between. the conduit 104 and the reftill outlet 19,6; "Ehe pressure responsivevalve. element, 200y includes a suitable O-ring seal' element 202` concentrically disposed thereon forv preventing. leakage.

mea-11S' 0f; the fastening; elements 178x is. a third. pressure` responsive movable wall or flexible diaphragm element 204 which deines the variable volume compartments 180 and 184, the pressure responsive piston element 198 being suitably secured at 206 to the pressure responsive movable wall. The pressure responsive piston element 198 having suitably secured therein in an upper end portion a guide pin 208 supporting one end of a compression spring element 210, the other end of which being received Within a recess portion 212 of the cap element` 180.

The recess or variable volume compartment portion 182 communicates by means of a passage portion 214 to a conduit 216 which includes a one-way check valve element 218 in communication therewith, said check valve only permitting the passage of tiuid away from the recess portion 182, and being in communication with a conduit portion 220 which is suitably connected to the previously mentioned `conduit 62 which communicates with the ilush tank when the valve seal element 82 is moved toward the right upon actuation of the same. The recess portion 182 is also in communication by means of a metered aperture portion 222 to the previously mentioned conduit 174 which communicates with the metering aperture 172 communicating with the upper recess orvariable volume compartment 138 of the flush tank emptying portion.

Considering first Figure l, it will be noted that the l previously mentioned compression spring 74 and pressure responsive movable Wall 46 urge the valve seal elements 80 and 82 into engagement with the respective annular valve seats 50 and 52. The relative position of the valve seal elements prevent the communication between conduits 16 and 58, and 62 and Huid passage 64. rlhe fluid pressure supply conduit 16 communicating with the branch conduit 104 and conduit 102 provides the previously mentioned fluid pressure against the pressure responsive movable Wall or exible diaphragm 46 and the iiuid is also in communication with the conduit 108 to the top of the pressure responsive movable wall 140 of the emptying portion 24 which aids the compression spring 148 in urging the previously mentioned sealing engagement between element110 and valve seat 18. The fluid pressure is also in communication lwith the metering aperture or passage portion 172 and thence through the conduit 174 through the metering aperture 222 to the upper portion of the flexible responsive movable wall or diaphragm 204which in conjunction with the force of the" compression spring 210 aids in urging the pressure responsive piston element 198 and its sealing portion 200 into sealing engagement with the valve seat 190 thus preventing communication between the branch conduit 104 and accordingly iluid pressure of theisupply source to the outlet 196 and into the ilush tank. The previously mentioned movement of the iluid pressure supply is indicated by the arrows appearing in the conduits and metering passage portions of the system shown in Figure l.

As seen in Figure 2, rightward movement of the element 72 which overcomes the compression spring 74 results in urging the valve seal elements 80 and 82 oi their respectivecooperating valve seats and overcomes the water supply pressure on the exible diaphragm or pressure responsive movable wall portion 46 results in the sealing engagement of the valve seat portion 96 with the annular valve seat 98 thus cutting ot communication of the metering aperture portion 100 with the metering aperture portion 106. As indicated by the direction arrows rightward movement of the flush tank actuating portion results in pressure fluid flowing from the conduit 16 to the conduit 58 and into the recess portion or variable volume compartment portion 128, this is permitted inasmuch as the recess or variable volume compartment portion 138 is in communication through conduit 62 and fluid passage 64 to the interior of the ilush tank. This is permitted inasmuch as the recess portion or variable volume compartment portion 138 is in communication with the ush tank to the conduit 62 and the uid passage portion 64. This also results in upward movement of the pressure responsive movable wa1l140 and :accordingly the upward movement of the sealing element away from the ush outlet 18 resulting in the emptying of the ush tank. The aforementioned actuating movement also results in communication of the conduit 104 with the bottom of the pressure responsive piston element 198, and inasmuch as the conduit 216 is in communication with the conduit 62 which is now open to the interior of the ush tank pressure is relieved on the upper portion of the pressure responsive movable wall 204 and accordingly upward movement of the valve seat portion 200 away from its cooperating valve seat permits the supply line 104 to communicate directly with the re-iill outlet 196 which communicates with the ush tank.

Release of pressure on the element 72 results in the compression spring 74 and the pressure responsive movable wall 46 urging the valve seal elements 80 and 82 back intoengagement with their respective valve seats as seen in Figure 1. This resulting movement cuts off the communication between the conduits 16 and 58 and 62 and fluid passage 64. When this occurs iluid is metered through the conduit 102 to the conduit 108 and thence upon the upper portion of the pressure responsive movable wall or flexible diaphragm 140. This pressure begins to iill up the recess or variable volume compartment 138 and the compartment 128 is emptied through the aperture 164 into the ush tank. After the compartment 138 is lled iluid passes through the passage portion 172 in through the conduit 174 into the recess portion 182 exerting a downward pressure on the pressure responsive movable wall or exible diaphragm 204 resulting in the subsequent sealing engagement of the portion 200 with the valve seat 190. When this iinal sealing engagement occurs the ilush tank will have been lled to the desirable level which is suflicient for flushing the toilet stool which is operatively connected to the conduit 20.

Thus there has been disclosed highly eicient, and positively operating ush tank control system which fully conforms with the objects of invention heretofore set forth.

Various positional directional terms such as front, top, bottom, etc., are utilized herein to have only a relative connotation to vaid in describing the device and are not intended to require any particular orientation with respect to any external elements.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed asnew is as follows:

l. A flush tank control system comprising a Hush tank having a iluid pressure supply and ush outlet from said tank, a ush tank actuating portion, flush tank emptying portion, and ush tank re-iill portion; said actuating portion comprising an elongated body portion having an elongated bore portion terminating in an end chamber, said bore portion including iluid inlet and outlet valve seat portions, iluid passages in communication with the bore portion of the body portion on opposite sides of said valve seat portions, a control rod element'reciprocably supported in a bore portion, spaced valve seal elements secured on said rod element and including portions engageable on the valve seat portion of said bore for controlling uid iiow between the uid passages on opposite sides of the valve seat portions, the end chamber including a iirst pressure responsive movable wall dividing said end chamber into two variable volume compartments, one of said valve elements extending in sealing relation through the pressure responsive movable wall and including a valve seat portion on an end thereof contained in one of said compartments, said one compartment including a rst metered aperture portion surrounded by a valve seat and communicating with the uid pressure supply, the valve seal portion of said valve seat element in said one compartment being operable to prevent uid ow through said rst metered aperture portion when the valve seal element is out of engagement with its cooperating valve seat portion in the borey of said body portion, and a second metered aperture portion in communication with said one compartment, said flush tank emptying portion comprising a sealing element controlling communicationy between a ush tank and ush outlet, an actuating rod having one end secured toV said sealing element, the flush tank emptying housing portion including a chamber portion divided into two variable volume compartments by a secondv pressure responsive movable wall', the other end of the actuating rod being sealingly secured and movable with said second pressure responsive movable wall, one of the compartments of the tank emptying housingy portion communicating with one of the fluid passages on one side of one of the valve seats in the bore of the body member, the other fluid passage on the other side of said valve seat communicating with the uid pressure supply, said one compartment of the tank emptying housing portion including a metering aperature portion in communication with the llush tank, the other of said compartments of said tank emptying housing portion communicating with one of the fluid passages on one side of the other valve seat of the bore of the body portion, the fluid passage on the other side thereof communicating with the flush tank, a first compression spring element in the other compartment of said tank emptying housing portion engageable with the actuating rod for urging the sealing element into a sealing relationship with the flush tank outlet, a pair of meteringv aperture portions in communication with the other compartment of said tank emptying housing portion, one of the pair of metering aperture portions communicatingwith the second metering aperture portion in said one compartment with the end chamber of the body portion; said tlush tank re-ill portion comprising a re-ll housing portion having a chamber divided' into variable volume cornpartments by a third pressure responsive movable Wall, a bore portion in said re-ll housing portion having an annular valve seat portion, a pair of lluid passages communieating on opposite sides of said valve seat portion, one of said fluid passages communicating with the uid pressure supply, the other of which communicating with said flush tank, a reciprocable pressure responsive piston elementV contained in the borel portion of said re-ll housing portion engageable with the valve seat portion for controlling fluid pressure flow past, said valve seat portion and intov theI flush tank, said piston element including a portion sealingly and movably engaged with the third pressure responsive movable wall, a second compression spring contained in one of the compartments in said re-lill housing portion and engageable with the pressure responsive movable wall for urging the piston element iny the bore of said second 1re-lill housing portion into sealing engagement with the valve seat in said bore portion, said one compartment in the re-ll portion communicating with the one of the uid passages on one side of the other valve seat of the bore of the body portion,the one compartment of said re-lll housing portion including a metered aperture portion in communication with the other of the pair of metered aperture portions in the other compartment of the tank emptying housing portion.

2. A hush tank control system as set forth in claim l wherein the control rod is operatively connected to a compression spring el'ement urging the spaced valve seal elements into engagement with -annular valve scat portions in the bore of the elongated body portion of the actuating portion.

3. A flush tank control system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bore portion of the elongated body portion includes variable diametered ico-axial portions defining said spaced valve seat portions, the valve seat surrounding the first metered aperture portion in the enlarged chamber of the actuating portion communicating with the uid pressure supply being in :axial alignment with the bore portion of said elongated body portion.

4. A ilush tank control system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the one compartment in the re-ll housing portion communicating with said one iuid passage on the one side of the other' valve seat of the bore of the body portion', includes a one-way valve operatively connected thereby permittingllow from said one compartment toward said fluid passage.

5. A. flush tank control system comprising a flush tank having a uid pressure supply and flush outlet from said tank, aflush tank actuating portion operatively connected to cooperating flush tank emptying and re-ll portions; said actuating portion including rst valve means controlling fluid pressure ow between the actuating portion and the fluid supply, emptying and re-ll portions for emptying the flush tank in response to movement of actuatingV control means operatively connected in the .actuating portion, said actuating, emptying and re-ll portions each including pressure responsive movablel Wall portions dening variable volume compartments, means operatively connecting said compartments together for providing an automatically operating emptying and re-lling cycle of the llush tank upon actuation of the actuation control means, the last mentioned means including a ilush tank valve connected-Y to the movable wall in the compartment of said emptying portion, a liquid conductor extending from the other compartment to said actuating portion so that fluid under pressure. enters said other compartment, an outlet valve connected to the movable Wall of said other compartment, and `a huid line interconnecting'` said compartments.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Owens Feb. 8, 1944 Robinson Mar. 4, 1952 

